Switch-operating mechanism.



0. W. MORRIS. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIONFILED JULY 22, 1910. l ,03 1 82.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES; 190m INVENTOR.

Patented July 2, 1912.

0. W. MORRIS. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1910.

Patented July 2, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

gawdzal INVENTOR.

0. W. MORRIS. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1910.

Patented July 2, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R T I \I l k m I 5 J g T L a WITNE55ES: iN\/ENTOR. ,2; cw; My,

C. W. MORRIS. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLIOJLTION IILED JULY 22, 1910.

1,031,082. Patented July 2, 1912.

' sssssssssssss 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

,& c. WLZZZ 1 m; @aM @wVd M r, I do hereby declare the following to be a UNITED sTArEs AT NT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. MORRIS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGr-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILBUR I). MOBRIDE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO; MARY O. MCBRIDE EXECUTRIX OF SAID 'WILBUR D.

MCBRIDE, DECEASED.

SXVITGH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLES W. Monroe, a citizen of ,the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain *new and useful Switch-Operating Mechanism; and

full, clear, and exact description of the in-' vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to railway switches, and has particular reference to switches of the class adapted to be operated from an engine or car traveling over the track in which the switch is disposed without stopping the engine or car for such purpose.

The object of my invention is the provision of a simple, improved and highly etticient mechanism of this class, which is easily operated from an engine or car while in motion and has its switch parts normally locked against an accidental or malicious moving of the same, and, which, during a switching operation, is operative to first release the locking means and then to actuate the de sired switching movementof the switch parts.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent by reference to the following description.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect it is susceptible of embodimentin numerous forms, a preferred embodimentthereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan of the portion of a t ac-k with which the switch tripping means of my invention is associated witha tripshoe in operative engagement therewith. Fig. 2 is a planof the switch mechanism of the invention and associated track, with a portion broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the tripping means taken on the line 3, 3 in Fig. 1, with a portion of an engine in section thereover and-carrying the cooperating trip parts, one of which is dopressed in switch throwing position and partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4, 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5, 5 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5 taken from theleft side thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 1, 1 designate the two rails of a main track, and 2, 2 the rails of a side track branching therefrom. The switch points 8, 3, one of which form-s a part'of each set of rails 1 and 2, are secured to a switch block 4, which underlies the track rails at the point of jointure of the two tracks, and is suitably guided forrlongitudinal movements transversely of the track by a guide part 5, which rises from a baseblock 6. In order to enable the switchpoints 3, 3 to have yielding movements longitudinally of the block t and relative to the major portion thereof to permit a movementof such points by thefianges of the wheels of an engine or car running in the directionin .which such points are directed, the

points are attached to a yieldingly movable portion 1 of the block, as shown in Fig. 2. This portion is movable longitudinally of the block and has its ends thrust against coiled compression springs l", which are mounted in recesses in the .end' portions of the block and have their outer, ends thrust against the outer ends of such recesses- Plates 4 cover the springs. e

The switch-block l-has a rack-bar'l preferably secured to the side thereof which is opposed to the direction in which the rails of the switch points 3, 3 extend and meshes with the segnicntally toothed 'end S of an oscillatory arm 9. This arm is pivoted fo'r horizontal swinging movements to a pair of vertically spaced cross-bars or plates 10, which are securely mounted beneath the rails at the side of the block 4 to which the rack-bar 7 is secured, and such arm has its outer end attached to links or rods 11, 11, which ex "5 tend in opposite directions therefrom beneath the associated rails 1 and attach at their outer ends to the bell-crank levers 12.

The levers 12 are mounted on associated shafts 13, which are mounted at their ends in the end portions of the bars or plates 10. The other arm of each lever 12 attaches to an associated draft-member 15, which member continues along the sides of the trackl away from the switchoints 3, and, at a suitable distance from he switch, attaches to a bell-crank lever 16, which carried by a frame 17, or in any other suit-a ile manner, at the associated side of the track, as shown in Fig. 1.

A guide-bar or strip 18 is carried by the frame 17 between the two rails 1, I in paral lelism therewith and coiiperates with su 1t- .able subjacent frame parts 19 (see Flgs. 3

and 4) to form bearings for a pair of horizontally oscillatory blocks 20 and 21, which are spaced longitudinally of such bar. These blocks are of quadrant form and are adapted to be swung to one side or the other 'of the bar 18, as indicated. The block 20has a draft chain or member 22 attached to its outer end and extended in opposite directions therefrom with its ends attached to the free arms of the respective bell-crank levers 16, 16, thus adapting an oscillation of the block 20 to rock one or the other of said levers. It is apparent that a rocking of track 1.

either lever 16 communicates a shifting movement in one direction or the other to the switch block 4 throu h the medium of the associated draft-member 15, bell-crank lever 12, rod 11, rock-arm 9 and rack-bar 7.

-In order to lock the switch block 4 against being accidentally or maliciously moved to throw the switch, a pawl or catch finger '23 is pivoted to the gui e part 5 adjacent each end thereof and projects inwardly in pos1- tion for its inner hooked end .to engage the coperating one of a set of catch-lugs 24 on the adjacent side of the switch block 4near the center thereof when such cotiperating lug is at the limit of its movement with the block 4 in the direction of its pawl. Springs 25 act on the pawls to normally hold them in lug engaging positions. The noses of the pawls 23 are attached by links 26 to. associatedbell-crank levers 27, carried by vertical shafts 28 mounted in the plates 10, 10 and these levers are connected by rods 29 to the respective bell-crank levers 30, 30 ounted on the shafts 13 at the associated si e of the bell-cranklevers 32, which m'e suitably carried by-the frame 17 at the? res ective sides of thetrack 1, as indicatedfirr ig. 1. The levers 32 are in turn attached to the outer ends of a chain or draft member 33, which attaches adjacent its'center to the outer end of the block 21, thus adaptingv an oscillation of such block to communicate'a lug-releasing' movement to one or the other of the pawls 23. v

The means which coiiperates with the blocks 20 and-21 to-actuate the switch throwing or pawl releasing movements of their respective mechanisms is shown in the present instance as being carried beneath the cab of an engine, which is designated 34, but may, of course, be carried by any other rve'hicle adapted for running upon a railway or like track. The means which I have illustrated for this purpose comprises a pair of elonated shoes or-blocks 35, 35, which extend ongitudinally of; the track and are hung 'tions of such shoes.

The other armsof the levers'30' are connected by draft-members 31 to the from associated levers 36 by links, which links pivotally attach to the central top por- The levers 36 extend longitudinally of the engine or car 34 and pivotally attach at their rear ends, as at 37, to a bar or frame 38-secured to the under side of the engine cab H00)" 39, and each attaches adjacent its forward end to a footrod 40 which projects upwardly through the .frame 38 and floor of the engine cab and carries a foot plate 41 at its upper end. A spring 42 is mounted on each rod 40 and coacts with the frame 38 and plate 41 to retain the rod 40 andattached lever normally elevated. U-bars 43 depend from the frame 38 and have their horizontal-portions projecting loosely through 0 enings in the shoes 35 adjacent their en s, and serve to limit the vertical movements of the shoes, as is apparent.

When a lever 36 and shoe 35 have been lowered by a depression of the foot-rod 40 it is held in such position by a pawl 45, which is pivoted to the frame 38, as at 46, and has its lower end positioned to engage over the notched free end ofthe lever, as

shown in Fig. 3, the pawl being drawn into' such engagement by a contraction spring 47, which connects the'pawl to the forward U-bar 43. Y

In order'to effect an automatic release of the pawl 45 from'engagement with a lever end to permit a raising of such lever and its shoe 35 when the shoe has passed the tripblocks 20 and 21, Imount a vertically disposed rock-arm or lever 48 on a shaft 49 in advance of the pawl and attach the upper and lower ends of such arm to the pawl by chains or flexible members 50 whereby an oscillation of the arm 48 in either direction from normal position will pull one or the other of the members 50 and move the vpawl.

to release the lever end. At a predetermined point in thetrack is disposed a cam-block 51 (see Fig. 2) 'which is adapted to coact withthe lower end ofthe arm 48 and effect an oscillation'thereof when it passes thereover, whether the engine be running forward or backward. The'shoes 35, when lowered pass between the bar'18 and a cooperating guide bar or flange 52 rising from the frame 17 at either side thereof as shown in Figs. 1, 3' and 4, and act upon the blocks 20 and 21 to swing them to'one side or the other of the bar 18. The shoes 35 have bothends tapered as at 35 to facilitate their coaction with the blocks 20 and 21.

- To enable the switch-block 4, to be thrown by hand, if desired, it is provided at one end with alongitudinally extending arm or bar 53 having rack-teeth 54 ,on its under surface withwhich' a segmentally toothed disk 'or member 55 may mesh. The disk 55. is

fixed to a shaft 56, which-is journaled'in an end-portion 0f arock-frame or treadle-member 57. This rock-frame has its carrying shaft 58 journaled for vertical oscillatory movements in standards 59 rising from an end portion of the base-block 6 at an end of the switch block, and has its outer end,-

or that opposed to the disk 55, held normally elevated due to the weight of the disk 55, and provided with a foot-plate or bar 60. Upon a depression of the outer end of the frame or treadle member 57 the toothed v portion of the disk 55 is raised into mesh with the rack-teeth 54, whereby a rocking .of such disk efiects a shifting of the switchblock 4 in one direction or the other. A 5 hand-lever 61 is adapted to be removably engaged with a flattened portion 62 of the shaft 56 for rocking such shaft.

,As it is necessary to release the engaged 1 pawl 23" from its lug 24 before the switchblock 4"can'be shifted, I extend an arm 63 upwardly from the shaft 58 of the frame 57 and connect it, by wires or other suitable draft members 64, 64, to the bell-crank ilevers 66, 66, which levers are mounted on .25 shafts 67, 67 journaled in the plates 10 adjacent the inner ends of the respective pawls 23, 23 and are connected with the innerrends of such pawls by the wires or draft members 68, 68 as shown in Figs. 2

' 0 and 5. It is thus apparent that upon a depression of the outer end of the frame 57 the levers 66, 66 are simultaneously rocked ito effect a release of the engaged pawl 23 from its lug 24.

The operation of my, improved switch controlling mechanism is as follows: Should the main track be open and it be desired to switch an advancingtrain upon the said track 2, the engineer on such train depresses the left foot-rod 40 in the cab, thus lowering the forward end of the attached lever 36,

I ""'Which moves theassociated shoe 35 into position to pass between the guide bar 18 and the cotiperating guide bar or flange 52 to the left thereof. As the shoe 35 passes between such guide bars, its nose successively moves into contact with the alining portions of. the blocks 21 and'20 and oscillates them to the positions shown in Fig. 1.

.50 The oscillation of the block 21, commit nicates a lug releasing movement of the Y .pawl 23 disposed at the left of the switch block 14, thus leaving I the switch block freetobe moved to's'hift the switch points.

Q5 'The move ments oft-he block '20 actuates the attaghed draft member 22, bell-crank lever v .16, di -ft member 15, bell-crank lever 12,

, and mdll', which parts are disposed at the ---l e ft of the track, to rock the arm 9 to cause its toothed end 8 to coact with the rack bar I on the switch block 4 to move such" block to the right whereby to .move the switch points 3, 3 to elosethemain track and open .thesiding2, as shown in Fig. 2. When the p switchbloekis shifted to such position the pawl 23 tothe right engages the associated lug 24 on the switch blockand holds such late the blocks 20 and 21 to the left, thus acting on the right hand pawl 23 to release it from locking engagement with the switch block 4 and actuating the switch block throwing parts to move such block to the left. If it is desired to work the switch by hand the operator engages a hand lever with the shaft-56, depresses the outer end of the frame 57 with his foot so as to elevate the toothed disk 55 into mesh with the rack-bar 53 and then oscillates the lever to rock the disk 55 and throw the switch-block 4 in the desired direction. When eithershoe-carrying lever 36 on the engine is depressed to move its shoe into block engaging position the pawl 45 engages the free end of] such lever to retain it Q depressed position. When the engine has passed the blocks 20 and 21, thelower end of the reelarui 48 coacts with a cam-block 51, disposed .between the rails of the track, and is moved thereby to effect! a release of the pawl 45 from engagement with the lever 36, thus permitting the shoe to rise from block ongaging position.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction or arrangement of the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters .Patent, is,-

1. The combination with a track and a set of switch points associated therewith, of a switch member attached to said points and movable transversely of the track, said member having a toothed portion, an arm capable of oscillation in .a horizontal plane having a segmentally toothed portion in mesh with the toothed portion of said member, an oscillatory element associatedwith the track at apredetermined distance in advance of said switch member, connections between said element and arm for imparting oscillatory movements from one to the other, and means movable over the track-and having parts operative to selectively engage and move said element to impart a predetermined switching movement to the switch member.

2. The combination with ,a track and a set of switch points therefor, of a switch member attached to such points and movable transversely of the. track, a rack-bar carried by such' member, an oscillatory arm having a segmentally toothedportion in mesh with said rack-bar, a horizontally os-' cillatory element associated with the track at a point in advance'of said arm, connections-between said element and arm for communicating oscillation therefrom' in either direction to said arm, a member, movable over the track, and trip means carried thereby, said trip means having a pair of parts which'are selectively movable to coact with said element to impart oscillation in either direction thereto. a

3. The combination with a track and switch'points thereof, of a member attached 7 to the switch points and movable transversely of the track, a mechanism operative 0 shift such member in either direction and avingla trip part associated with the track a; distance from such member, a mecha- *IilSIIl operative to lock such member in either position of its s'hifting'movement and havmg a trip part associated with the track at a distance from said member and a horizontally oscillatory locking part associated with said memb'er,' a. vehicle movable over such ciated with the track at a distance rom such member, a mechanism operative to automatically lock said member in shifted position with said'parts to successively release the en determined direction;

and having a horizontally oscillatory part associated with said first mentioned part, a vehicle movable over the track, and mechanism' carried by such vehicle and operative gagement of the locking mechanism with said member and to actuate the shifting mechanism to shift said member in a pre- 5."The combination with a track and the switch points thereof, of a member attachedto said the trac ,a mechanism operative to effect a shifting of said'memlier in either directionofits movemeht and having a trip part associated with the track at adistance' from.

said member, awlscoa'cting withsaid memher to lock it 1n shifted position, mechanism operative to release said paw ls from engagementwith said member and having a memher associated with said first mentioned part, a vehicle movable over the track, means carried bysuch vehicle and operative to coact points and shiftaiblejransversely 'of.

with said :parts, to first actuate'the pawl moving mechanism to release the engagement of the pawls with 'said'member and then to actuate the member shifting mocha I nism to shift such member in a predetet mined direction. a

6. The combination with a track switch points thereof, of a switch block at'-,

tached to such switch points and movable transversely of the track, mechanism opera tive to shift such block in either direction of its movement and having a trip part'associ I atedwith the trackat a distance from such block, .a mechanism operative tofautomat ic'ally lock said block in shifted position and.

having a trip part associated with thetrack it a. distance from such block, a member movable over the track and a mechanism carried by such member and having a'pair; ofshoes selectively movable to cooperate with said parts, one shoe to move said parts,

in one direction and the-other shoe to'l'nove said parts in the other direction whereby to actuate the locking mechanism to release its shifting mechanism'to shift the block in; predetermined direction. I

7. The combination with a track and the switch point's thereof, of a member attached engagement with the block and the blockv I to such switbh points and movable to shift I thesame to open and close the track, said member having a rack-bar associated therewith, means .for locking said member in shifted position, and mechanism normally disengaged from said rack-bar and movable to engage such rack-bar and to shift the po:

sition of said member and also to release said v locking means from engagement with the member. 8. The combination with a track and the, switch points thereof, of a member attached to such switch points-andmovable to shift the same toopen-and closetheltrack, said member having a rack-bar projecting froman end thereof, means for automatically lockingthe member in shi'ftedposition, a;

rock-frame, a pinion carried b'ysuch frame and movable by a rockingrof the frame to mesh with such rack-bar, means forrocking said pinion, and means connecting said locking means and rock-frame for effecting a release of thelockin'g means from engagement with said member when said frame is rocked to move its pinion into mesh with the rackbar.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\CHARLES W. MORRIS.

Witnesses:

O. W. OWEN, E. E. THOMAS.

signed my name to this specification in the 

